A New South Wales mum has pulled off the unthinkable, making a bold move that’s got everyone talking.
Instead of battling over custody and separate homes, Eva Bantin has moved into a tiny house … in her ex-husband’s backyard — and she says it’s the secret to their family’s happiness.
When recruitment specialist Eva Bantin and her husband of 22 years decided to call it quits in January 2025, she had one non-negotiable: her children’s stability.
Her solution? A radical, 40-square-metre tiny home, strategically placed just a stone’s throw from her ex-partner’s new digs.
“We are a very close-knit family, a very social family, and therein lies the problem of the house and what we were going to do moving forward because we both wanted our own space and individuality. But of course, Sydney and obviously down here as well (house prices are) absolutely out of control,” Bantin told The Financial Review.
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Eva Bantin decided on a unique living situation when she got divorced, and now lives in a tiny home in the garden of her ex-husband’s home. Picture: Eva Bantin/LinkedIn
She says it’s the best thing she could have done for her family. Picture: Eva Bantin/LinkedIn
While tiny, the home has everything she needs. Picture: Eva Bantin/LinkedIn
After an amicable split saw them sell their family home on the NSW South Coast and divide the spoils, Eva’s ex snapped up a house in a neighbouring suburb. But for Eva, the thought of another crushing mortgage was a hard pass.
“He purchased a home that has a big backyard, and I’ve always wanted to live in a tiny home. I just love that kind of compartmentalised living. Since turning 50 this year, I don’t want to look after a big house anymore, but I want to have all the mod cons and all the comforts of a home but in a really tiny version.”
Her custom-built sanctuary, crafted by Casa Tiny House with assistance from buyer’s advocate Bridget Rose of Tiny House Agency, might be compact, but it’s brimming with personality.
Eva has even managed to accommodate her cherished shoe and handbag collections, demonstrating that a large footprint isn’t necessary for a fulfilling lifestyle.
The tiny home boasts a ground-floor king-sized bed, a four-burner cooktop, an oven, and ample benchspace for Bantin, who enjoys cooking.
The upstairs kingsize bedroom. Picture: Eva Bantin/LinkedIn
The bathroom comes with a shower and a toilet. Picture: Eva Bantin/LinkedIn
The main living space. Picture: Eva Bantin/LinkedIn
It also features a desk, a wardrobe, a second floor with additional storage, a dedicated spot for a washing machine, a shower, and a flushing toilet – all seamlessly connected to the main house’s systems. The entire setup cost $150,000.
This innovative approach comes as basic tiny homes can be found on platforms like Amazon Australia for as little as $11,000, reflecting the growing popularity of prefabricated homes amid a national affordability crisis where housing supply struggles to meet demand.
And the children? They are reportedly thriving with the arrangement.
“It’s working out incredibly well for us and the kids and best joint decision we could have made as a separated couple financially, emotionally and all that comes with it,” Bantin shared on LinkedIn.
Beyond the practicalities, the move has granted Bantin significant financial freedom.
“I have a fabulous working and living space inside my Tiny and honestly you’d be surprised how little one really requires to live smartly, comfortably and most importantly happily.”
However, with her ex-partner now having a new partner “who is lovely”, privacy became a consideration.
The setup cost about $150,000. Picture: Eva Bantin/LinkedIn
“So I will have my own separate entrance around the side of the house, and we’re going to build … a little fence so we both have our own privacy, but the kids can come and go freely,” she told The Financial Review.
While Eva acknowledges such an arrangement isn’t feasible for every separating couple, for her family, it has proven to be “an unconventional solution that has worked for everyone”.
“Especially the kids. They love having me out the back. It’s meant I’m right here for them. I’m present,” she told The Daily Mail.
“If it means I live in my ex’s backyard, more power to me. I don’t have a mortgage. I don’t pay rent and I have minimal bills.”
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